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COVID-19 and Meatpacking

Trump ag secretary Sonny Perdue personally lobbied to keep meatpacking plants open during pandemic, emails show

By Madison McVan, Eli Hoff and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest | July 2, 2021

It’s well-established that Trump administration officials wanted meatpacking plants to keep operating, often with industry pressure, as workers fell ill and died by the dozens. But new emails obtained by nonprofit Public Citizen show Perdue personally lobbying to keep plants open, including pressing Robert Redfield, the former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director.

Opinion

Opinion: Dissonance is USDA secretary’s stock in trade

By Dave Dickey/Commentator | December 5, 2019

It's a head scratcher. For unfathomable reasons USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue's connotative discourse has created self-inflicted wounds for the White House.

Opinion

Opinion: ERS relocation nothing more than political retribution

By Dave Dickey/Commentator | November 20, 2019

Now that the dust has settled on the move of USDA's Economic Research Service from Washington D.C. to Kansas City Dave Dickey takes stock.

USDA to reduce work exemptions for some SNAP recipients

By Christopher Walljasper/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | December 22, 2018

The USDA wants to tighten work requirements for 2.8 million Americans receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps.
The proposed rule change was announced Thursday, the morning President Donald Trump signed a Farm Bill that notably left out changes to SNAP.

Featured in Category

USDA Secretary Perdue discusses Farm Bill, trade in Illinois RV tour stop

By Johnathan Hettinger/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | August 8, 2017

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue told farmers that they need to open a line of communication with the public, as consumers push for more standards, transparency and traceability.

Government

Newly confirmed Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue joins ‘farmers roundtable’ discussion at White House as Trump issues executive order

By Robert Holly | April 26, 2017

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a new executive order targeting economic development in rural America.

Government

Business ties made public for Trump’s USDA pick Sonny Perdue

By Robert Holly | March 14, 2017

The Office of Government Ethics released on Sunday disclosure documents filed by President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture, former governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue.

farm bill

Senate ag committee member Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) backs Trump’s USDA pick, Sonny Perdue

By Robert Holly | February 7, 2017

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) has voiced her support for President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue.

Federal government no longer communicating with public on certain issues

By Johnathan Hettinger/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | January 24, 2017

Federal government officials are no longer allowed to communicate with the public and media about certain environmental issues per orders from the Trump administration, multiple news outlets reported Monday and Tuesday.

Government

Climate change guide to Trump Cabinet nominations

By Johnathan Hettinger/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting | January 10, 2017

Keeping up with the confirmation hearings of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominations? The process is likely to be full of controversy — particularly when it comes to Trump’s picks and climate change.